Henry VIII Flashcards
(112 cards)
How did H8’s kingship differ to H7’s?
Disliked business of government and found reading and writing of state papers tedious.
Yet, could intervene suddenly in govt business, contradicting decisions or actions that had already been taken. This damaged decision making in H8’s administration.
Lacked work ethic attributed to his father. Evident in court activities which followed his accession e.g. pageants, sports, hunting and tournaments.
How was the accession of H8 met?
Welcomed as breath of fresh air after sinister atmosphere associated with influence of Empson and Dudley in last years of his father’s reign.
Sir Thomas More “ the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness, the beginning of joy”.
However, Henry had little experience of govt or public affairs.
Thomas Wolsey (1471-1530)
Became royal almoner on H8’s accession, came to Henry’s attention as a result of his organisational skills. Gradually became like a chief minister, interposing himself between the king and experienced councillors, who were increasingly frozen out of influence. Appointed Cardinal in 1515 then Papal Legate in 1518, meaning he outranked the Archbishop of Canterbury.
brought down by his enemies in 1529, who exploited the weaknesses in his relationship with H8, brought about by his failure to solve the King’s great matter.
Legacy of H7?
Thought to have left £300,000
unpopular mechanisms of raising revenue
Peaceful foreign policy
a conciliar form of government
Changes made at start of H8 reign?
Members of council established their power and disposed of other members
Richard Fox, assisted by Thomas Lovell and Richard Weston, has Edmond Dudley and Richard Empson arrested. They were execute a year later by H8.
1510 act of parliament abolished the council learned in the law and many bonds and recognisances were cancelled.
Increased H8’s popularity among nobility and propertied classes, who shows themselves as victims of his Father’s tax policies.
What were H8’s early aims?
To establish his status among European monarchs through marriage.
Re-establish role of the nobility.
To establish himself as a warrior king through success in battle.
Outline H8’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
Marriage between Henry and Catherine discussed since Arthur’s death but had not been finally agreed while H7 was king.
H8 was anxious to conclude the marriage as quickly as possible. This suited his councillors, who thought that marriage would deflect him from politics and enable them to conduct conciliar business as usual. Marriage took place 11th June 1509.
Marriage= initially successful on personal level and Catherine even had some influence in policy making in first few years. By mid 1520s, Henry regretted marriage to a woman 5 years older than him who was unable to produce him a healthy male heir.
How did H8 re-establish the nobility?
H7 reign = nobility frozen out of direct political influence. H7’s peaceful fp denied nobles of traditional outlet of pursuit of military glory.
Changed under accession of H8, who shared tastes and dominant military culture of the nobility. Henry often played sports with sons of nobles who were slightly older than him. It was the nobility who went to war with Henry in France, or the Marquis of Dorset to south-west France or the Earl of Surrey to Scotland.
However, nobles never got the political domination they had hoped for as Henry chose to promote the interests of Wolsey, who had organised the war in France for him.
Describe the execution of Buckingham in 1521.
Indicative of H8’s ruthlessness towards nobles early in his reign. Buckingham, like H8, was a descendent of Edward III. For talking about the succession, which was technically treasonous to discuss what happens after King’s death, he was tried by court of his peers headed by Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, and quickly found guilty and executed in 1521.
Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and Duke of Norfolk (1443-1524)
fought on Yorkist side at Bosworth and imprisoned and attainted for treason.
Title restored in 1489 for suppressing the Yorkshire rebellion.
Promoted to Duke of Norfolk for leading victorious Battle of Flodden against Scotland in 1513.
Served both H7 and H8 as a soldier and administrator.
Different eras of Henry’s government?
Conciliar: 1509-14
Wolsey as chief minister: 1514-29
Thomas More and the reformation parliament: 1529-32
Cromwell as chief minister: 1532-40
Government by privy council: 1540-47
How long did the conciliar government last under H8 and what caused its downfall?
Adopted at start of reign and lasted from 1509-14
- H8 became disenchanted with some of his father’s senior councillors who were reluctant to support war with France.
- As H8 got more used to governing > asserted his right to control decision making.
- H8 surrounded himself with young courtiers who reinforced his suspicions of the ‘old guard’.
- H8 was impressed by organisational skills of Wolsey in managing the French campaign.
Outline the emergence of Wolsey as chief minister.
Had ability to give King whatever he wanted in early years.
His influence came from closeness of his relationship with the King, not the positions he held.
Henry gave the direction of policy to Wolsey and he filled ‘the details’, which worked for Henry.
Wolsey managed domestic policy, foreign policy and the church.
His main concerns were the legal system, domestic policy and decision making.
How did Wolsey attempt to control Privy Chamber and what happened?
Before 1519, Privy Chamber = one area of govt outside of Wolsey’s immediate control.
In early years of H8 reign, he extended role of Privy Chamber when his ‘minions, became Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. This tranformed both the Chamber and the position of the minions. The minions didn’t trust Wolsey, who aimed to neutralise their influence.
In 1519, he secured removal of minions and replaced them with his supporters. However, most minions recovered their positions. So, Privy Chamber retained prestige and out of Wolsey’s immediate control.
Describe the court of chancery.
Though not a trained lawyer, as Lord Chancellor Wolsey was responsible for overseeing the legal system. He presided over the court of chancery and tried to use the court to uphold ‘fair justice’. E.g. used courts for issues relating to enclosure, contracts and lands left to others in wills.
Main problem = too popular and justice became slow as court clogged with cases
Outline the star chamber
Wolsey’s most distinctive legal contribution came through operation of star chamber.
Established by act of parliament in 1487, became of both government and justice under Wolsey.
His motive to increase use of star chamber from 1516 = to increase cheap and fair justice. Wolsey heard cases of misconduct from people dominant in their localities.
Wolsey also encouraged use of the star chamber for private lawsuits. In this regard, Wolsey was too successful and forced to set up a series of ‘overflow tribunals’ to deal with pressure of business.
Describe the Tudor subsidy.
As under H7, taxpayers ( including nobility) would be expected to provide extraordinary revenue. Most effectively achieved by raising subsidies.
Wolsey didn’t invent subsidy, but did change way it was collected. Instead of using local commissioners to assert taxpayers wealth ( often over generous to nobles), Wolsey set up a national committee which he headed. With direct and realistic assessments, nation’s revenue base became much more realistic.
Describe the ‘Amicable Grant’
Subsidies insufficient for H8’s war in France. Wolsey attempted to raise unparliamentary taxation through ‘amicable grant’ of 1525. Led to widespread resistance amounting to almost rebellion.
In theory a freely given gift from subjects to King. In reality a heavy tax.
Describe the Eltham Ordinances
In 1526, Wolsey introduced the Eltham Ordinances to reform finances of the Privy Council.
Wolsey used this to secure a reduction in number of Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber, one area of govt Wolsey couldn’t control.
Most importantly, removed Groom of the Stool, Sir William Compton, replacing him with the more compliant Henry Norris.
Describe the role of Groom of the Stool.
The most intimate of an English monarch’s courtiers, who became a man in whom much confidence was placed and royal secrets were shared as a matter of course.
Describe the ‘King’s Great Matter’
By mid 1520s H8 dissatisfied with marraige to Catherine. With whom he only had one living child, Mary.
Wanted Male heir, even considered legitimising illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy.
Fell in love with Thomas Howard’s niece, Anne Boleyn, who refused to be his mistress.
Henry asked Wolsey to get papal annulment ( became known as King’s Great Matter)
Biblical justification = Leviticus prohibited a man marrying brother’s widow.
Catherine argued that it didn’t apply as marraige to Arthur never consummated.
Henry claimed original dispensation from Pope Julius II to marry him to Catherine was invalid.
May 1527 Wolsey brought Henry in front of false court to ‘accuse’ him of living in sin.
Catherine refused to accept courts verdict and appealed to Pope I’m accordance with canon law.
How did the HRE prevent Henry from getting annulment?
Catherine was the aunt of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
Charles had recently take control of Rome in the 1527 sack of Rome and had imprisoned Pope Clement VII.
Limited Pope’s ability to act independently as couldn’t risk angering Charles by invalidating his aunt’s marriage.
Describe the fall of Wolsey.
Wolsey knew his own fate depended on getting annulment. Pope knew Wolsey’s situation but could only play for time, which increased Henry’s frustration.
After 2 years of fruitless diplomacy, Pope sent envoy Cardinal Campeggio to hear case with Wolsey. Hearing began in London in June. Campeggio adjourned the case on 30th July 1529, sealing Wolsey’s fate as he had failed to get an annulment.
Already unpopular for 1523 subsidy and 1525 amicable grant. Oct 1529 charged with praemunire and surrendered himself and his possessions to the King including Hampton Court. Arrested in Nov 1530 but cheated execution by dying on the 29th Nov.
Describe the rise of Cromwell.
After Wolsey’s death, conciliar govt continued for nearly 3 years, with no sign that the ‘King’s Great Matter’ would be solved.
Emergence of Cromwell brought this period of conciliar government to an end. Cromwell had advanced his position under Wolsey and rose quickly after his death due to his proposal to break from Rome and establish Henry as head of an English church, from which he could then grant himself an annulment. By 1532 he was chief minister.
